Written Answers Thursday 20 November 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been suspended for alcohol-related issues in each local authority area in the Lothians region in each of the last five years.

Maureen Watt: The available information on the number of pupils of temporarily excluded from school in each local authority area in Lothian region for "substance misuse – alcohol" from 2003-04 to 2006-07, is given in the following table.

  

 Local Authority
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 East Lothian
 0
 5
 2
 2


 Edinburgh City
 12
 0
 0
 6


 Midlothian
 8
 6
 0
 3


 West Lothian
 8
 4
 2
 10



  Prior to 2003-04, although information was collected on the reason for exclusion, different categories were used and it is impossible to identify those excluded for "substance misuse – alcohol".

Allotments

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what mechanisms it will implement within the context of its national food policy to make land available to local authorities for use as allotment space where there is a proven need and desire for such provision.

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pupils have been suspended for alcohol-related issues in each local authority area in the Lothians region in each of the last five years.

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much land could be made available to local authorities in the South of Scotland for use as allotment space where there is a proven need and desire for such provision.

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance and other general support will be offered to local authorities looking to increase provision of allotment space.

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being undertaken in conjunction with local authorities and other bodies to increase provision of allotment space in the South of Scotland.

Richard Lochhead: I recently announced that we would be asking a number of public bodies to consider how the land they manage could be made to local authorities to increase the number of allotments across Scotland, including the South of Scotland. Officials from across the public sector (including local authorities) will be meeting shortly to discuss the policy, legal and financial implications and the mechanisms required to effect transfer.

Animal Welfare

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the paper entitled "A survey of gundog lameness and injuries in Great Britain in the shooting seasons 2005-06 and 2006-07", which was published in issue 3, 2008 of Veterinary and Comparative Orthapaedics and Traumatology .

Richard Lochhead: This research paper by Mr Houlton records injuries sustained by working gun dogs over the two shooting seasons. A total of 337 dogs were injured (24.8% of the group) including 114 foot and lameness injuries and 41 tail injuries. The report demonstrates that there was a highly significant association between tail injuries and undocked Springer and Cocker Spaniels.

  However, there were only 22 undocked Springer and Cocker Spaniels in the study group compared to 409 docked dogs in these breeds. It is therefore considered advisable to await the results of the research on tail injuries being conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol Veterinary School before any consideration is given to reviewing the ban on tail docking.

Burial and Cremation

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received from funeral directors since May 2007 regarding disposal of unclaimed ashes and what action it has taken.

John Swinney: Neither I nor my officials are aware of any representations from funeral directors regarding disposal of unclaimed ashes.

Business Rates

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses it estimates will have their business rates reduced to zero from April 2009, broken down by local authority.

John Swinney: Information on the business rates paid by individual businesses is not held centrally. The information available relates to the business rates paid on non-domestic properties. Some of these will be owned by businesses, but others will be in the public sector. Further, while from 1 April 2009, 100% relief will be available under the Small Business Bonus Scheme for individual ratepayers with non-domestic properties of which the combined rateable value is £8,000 or less, a significant number of non-domestic properties will have their business rates reduced to zero as a result of other rates reliefs.

  Information for 2008-09 will be available shortly on the number of non-domestic properties which have been awarded relief under the scheme, using information provided routinely by local authorities in regular statistical returns. Using this information, it may be possible to make an estimate of the number of non-domestic properties that will pay no business rates from April 2009 as a result of the scheme.

Children’s Panels

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider legislation to entitle children’s panel members to have paid time off to participate in hearings.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to introduce legislation of this type.

  Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, states that an employer shall, with certain exceptions, permit an employee who is a member of a children’s panel to take reasonable time off for the purpose of attending hearings. For many panel members this is already paid time off. Employers recognise that the skills and experience gained through being a panel member can be of benefit within the workplace. They also see this as a way of putting something back into the community.

  It is one of the strengths of Scotland’s unique system of children’s hearings that the panel comprises of volunteers recruited from the local community. The contribution that those members make is valued very highly. The reform of the children’s hearings system is an opportunity to provide a more improved and consistent level of support.

Children’s Panels

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that disposals arrived at by children’s panels are properly resourced.

Adam Ingram: The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 requires local authorities to give effect to a supervision requirement made by a children’s panel. The act also places a duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are "in need" by providing a range and level of services appropriate to their needs.

  Resources have been allocated to local authorities and under the single outcome agreement, it is for the local authorities to agree their strategic priorities for the local area and express those priorities as outcomes to be delivered by the partners.

  Under the Getting It Right For Every Child programme, agencies involved in a child’s care are being encouraged to come together at an early juncture to agree the child’s intervention plan, its resourcing and implementation, using a common language and approach. This approach will be strengthened under the new Early Years Framework, jointly developed with COSLA, where the importance of early identification of need and providing timely and appropriate support is recognised.

  The Scottish Government can set the direction of policy and is giving local authorities and community planning partners the room they need to deliver services that meet varying local needs.

Communities

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the community hubs will be financed and, specifically, what the role of the private sector will be.

John Swinney: There is financial backing from the Scottish Government of around £1.4 million for each pathfinder during its development stages. This will enable planning and development of proposals to establish a pipeline of projects for primary and community care facilities, and for other key infrastructure projects in keeping with the "community hub" concept. As indicated in my announcement on 13 November, the two pathfinders will be seeking private sector development partners through a procurement process during the first half of 2009. The hub initiative is designed flexibly to use public or private funding.

Concessionary Travel

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report on the national concessionary travel scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: The steering group set up to review the scheme will report to ministers towards the end of this year. We expect to report to the Parliament in 2009.

Cycling

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support cycling as a sustainable method of transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is currently working in partnership with stakeholders to produce a Cycling Action Plan for Scotland. Other projects include grants to local authorities for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets projects, to Sustrans to tackle the school run and extend and maintain the National Cycle Network and to Cycling Scotland to promote the benefits of cycling. Our Smarter Choices, Smarter Places initiative is rolling out in seven areas in Scotland and will promote all forms of sustainable transport including cycling.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers are being asked to produce materials for the Curriculum for Excellence without recompense.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers are being asked to produce materials for the Curriculum for Excellence without assistance.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers are being asked to produce materials for the Curriculum for Excellence in addition to their normal teaching responsibilities.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are being asked to produce materials for the Curriculum for Excellence without recompense.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers are being asked to produce materials for Curriculum for Excellence without assistance.

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether teachers are expected to produce their own materials for the Curriculum for Excellence.

Maureen Watt: A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century is the agreement reached between the Scottish Government, the teaching unions and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities following the McCrone report. It delineates the central role teachers play in the quality and effectiveness of learning in schools. The outline of teachers duties presented in annex B includes "teaching assigned classes together with associated preparation and correction" and "developing the curriculum." Teachers currently produce, use and interpret a wide range of materials to support learning and teaching as part of their normal duties. That will not change within Curriculum for Excellence.

  Building the Curriculum 3: A framework for learning and teaching sets out the parameters for those involved in planning a child or young person’s experiences of learning. It provides a curriculum framework to be used for all young people. It describes an overall outcome-based approach and is therefore not prescriptive on detail or content. It emphasises the principles for curriculum design and provides the flexibility, breadth and depth that people asked for in the national debate on education. The experiences and outcomes that describe the broad content of the curriculum are designed to enable teachers to adopt learning and teaching approaches that meet the needs of all pupils. Emerging guidance, including exemplification of the curriculum, will assist teachers produce relevant Curriculum for Excellence materials.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans ministers have to improve support in schools for children with long-term conditions.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government has recently established a new working relationship with local government which will help support the education of pupils with additional support needs, including those with long-term conditions. The Scottish Government is providing local government with £34.9 billion over the next three years, an increase of 13.1% across the period. Significant controls and flexibilities have been devolved to better enable local authorities to respond to local needs and priorities.

  The Scottish Government is also undertaking a number of other initiatives to help support schools to provide support and services for pupils with long-term conditions including:

  Funding a National Development Officer to focus on transitions for all young people at risk of missing out on education and training opportunities.

  The Scottish Teacher Education Committee Action Plan – Framework for Inclusion, a two year action plan to take forward inclusive education in initial teacher education and continuous professional development.

  Following talks with the Scottish Government, the General Teaching Council for Scotland has now added five new additional support needs areas to their professional recognition framework. These cover autism, dyslexia, hearing impairment, visual impairment and dual sensory impairment.

  Additionally, the Scottish Government will soon publish The Autism Toolbox, an autism resource for Scottish local authorities and schools. The toolbox will draw on a range of practice experience, literature and research to support education authorities and schools in the delivery of services and planning for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders.

Enterprise

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to support small businesses through the credit crunch.

Jim Mather: The purpose of the Scottish Government is to increase sustainable economic growth. The changing economic climate has further increased the importance of ensuring that the right advice and support is readily available to firms. The actions we are taking under our Scottish Government economic recovery plan will help enable more business growth/start-ups – especially important in the current economic climate.

  For example, we are working to make the planning system an aid, not a barrier to economic growth; have developed an online portal to help small and medium-sized business access, and bid for government contracts, and aspire to the 10 day target of paying the bills of small businesses.

  Business rates account for a higher proportion of costs for small businesses than they do for larger businesses, so reductions in business rates for smaller firms simply remove an element of competitive disadvantage that they suffer. We have already introduced measures to reduce business rates for our smallest businesses through the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which is benefiting tens of thousands of Scottish businesses.

  In addition, firms across Scotland can access advice on cash flow and business efficiency issues from the Business Gateway website and where appropriate, direct from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has been given on the extent and health of Scotland’s ancient woodland and what steps it is taking and intends to take to protect this environmental resource and the biodiversity it contains.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage identified 148,000 hectares of ancient woodlands in Scotland, in their Scottish Ancient Woodlands Inventory, published in 1987. Of these woodlands, 60% were still semi-natural woods and 40% were composed of plantations that had replaced the original, more natural woods.

  Currently, all ancient and other native woodlands in Scotland are being surveyed under the Native Woodlands Survey of Scotland. This major project, led by Forestry Commission Scotland, will be completed in 2013. We will then, for the first time, have a comprehensive picture of the extent and current ecological condition of our ancient and native woods.

  The Scottish Government recognises that ancient woodlands include many of the most valuable woodlands for biodiversity, and that they are also important in terms of cultural heritage. About 25% of ancient woods are currently protected within sites designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest for their woodland habitat features.

  Improving the condition of designated woodland features and increasing the area of ancient and native woods that are being managed to restore biodiversity are priorities under the Scottish Government’s Forestry Strategy.

Farming

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes cross-compliance provisions are a useful tool at the disposal of ministers to assist in addressing issues of concern.

Richard Lochhead: All single farm payments are conditional on a farmer meeting the requirements set out under cross-compliance. Cross-compliance is therefore a very useful tool to address key issues directly linked to farming activities.

Farming

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it perceives any threat to its ability to continue to use cross-compliance measures.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has a statutory requirement to implement cross-compliance legislation. To do otherwise would jeopardise the £400 million payments made to farmers annually under single farm payments and a proportion of the £1.6 billion which is planned to be spent under the Scottish Rural Development Programme over the next few years. The precise content of the EU rules on cross-compliance is under negotiation in the CAP Health Check.

Farming

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to seek to ensure cross-compliance measures remain available for governments in Europe to deploy.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has expressed its views on cross-compliance throughout the discussions and formal negotiations on the CAP Health Check since the publication of its Green Paper by the European Commission in November 2007.

Farming

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met representatives of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to discuss cross compliance and any developing view within the European Union on future provisions.

Richard Lochhead: During the course of the CAP Health Check, officials from the Scottish Government have met with and held teleconferences with their counterparts in Defra and the other national authorities, regarding cross-compliance. The European Commission’s plans for cross-compliance have been set out in draft legislation which is currently being negotiated by member states, on which the Scottish Government held a public consultation from 13 June 2008 to 5 September 2008.

Farming

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations at European Union level on the question of the future of cross-compliance provisions.

Richard Lochhead: EU negotiations on the CAP Health Check, including the future of cross-compliance, have been taking place since May 2008. During that time the Scottish Government has expressed its position on cross compliance in various forms, including in collaboration with the United Kingdom authorities.

  The Minister for Environment and Alyn Smith MEP issued a joint statement calling on the EU to ensure that a "valuable weapon" in the fight against wildlife crime is not lost.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what significant budgetary changes there were in its draft budget for 2009-10 compared to previous plans.

John Swinney: Any significant changes in the Scottish Government’s spending plans between those laid out in the Draft Budget 2009-10 and those previously published are detailed in the Draft Budget 2009-10.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which race courses the First Minister has visited since May 2007 and on how many occasions.

John Swinney: The First Minister has undertaken Scottish Government business at Ayr Racecourse twice and Musselburgh Racecourse once since May 2007.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which hospitals the First Minister has visited since May 2007.

John Swinney: The First Minister has undertaken Scottish Government business at four hospitals since May 2007:

  Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow

  Raigmore Hospital, Inverness

  Western General Hospital, Edinburgh

  Summerfield House, Woodend Hospital Estate, Aberdeen.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what official journeys have been undertaken by the First Minister by train or bus since 1 September 2008.

John Swinney: The First Minister has undertaken no official journeys by bus or train since 1 September 2008.

Foster Care

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15976 by Adam Ingram on 10 September 2008, what progress has been made in bringing forward legislation to allow same-sex couples to apply to foster children.

Adam Ingram: We are currently consulting on a revised set of looked after children regulations, following extensive re-drafting in light of consultation earlier this year. In the consultation document we restate our intention to repeal the existing regulation prohibiting same-sex couples from fostering. We plan to lay the looked after children regulations in March 2009, at the same time as the regulations accompanying the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, for them to come into force in June 2009.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that incidence of and mortality from Clostridium difficile are reported on a hospital-by-hospital basis.

Shona Robison: Yes. The Scottish Government will be issuing a reporting template for all boards to use from January 2009.

  This template will enable boards to undertake a critical review of all cases of Clostridium difficile associated disease in hospital and those which result in death, identify whether the patient’s clinical care was optimal and what can be improved to reduce the risk of future patients developing CDAD.

  I will make it clear to NHS boards that the outcome of the analysis of all cases must be reported at bi-monthly board meetings and that the data must be published.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a staff uniform policy in relation to the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections and, if so, what the main principles are.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a staff uniform policy in relations to the prevention of healthcare-acquired infections and, if so, how this is monitored.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government’s Health and Wellbeing Directorates are in the process of finalising a national uniform and dress code for NHSScotland.

  The most appropriate measures to prevent the spread of infection is rapid diagnosis of patients, the use of personal protective equipment including disposable aprons and gloves, environmental cleaning and rigorous hand hygiene procedures.

  All boards have infection prevention and control policy manuals which are based on Health Protection Scotland model policies. These policies include guidance on the use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene. Compliance with these policies is monitored through the Infection Prevention and Control Annual Audit Programme.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will use double testing in suspected cases of Clostridium difficile, as recommended by a recent independent study, to ensure accurate diagnoses.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS laboratories test for Clostridium difficile. The study referred to by the member has only just been published. Its recommendations are being considered by Health Protection Scotland, alongside other evidence on appropriate testing methods. Subject to this consideration, a view will then be taken on whether the current guidance requires to be revised.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how often it has used cross-compliance provisions to address questions of persecution of birds and other species.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has, on three separate occasions, reduced support scheme payments under cross compliance for incidents relating to the persecution of birds and other species. It remains committed to such action where necessary.

Hedges

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to legislate on the subject of high hedges and, if so, when.

Fergus Ewing: We are in the process of investigating options – including legislative ones – for supporting a means of resolving disputes about high hedges. The findings of this work will be reported to Parliament early in 2009, alongside the findings of the review of national antisocial behaviour policy.

Higher Education Funding

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital projects are being undertaken in the university and college sector.

Fiona Hyslop: Details of the capital projects currently being undertaken in the university and college sector are an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Scottish Funding Council to write to the member with this information.

Higher Education Funding

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital projects are planned for the university and college sector in the next three years.

Fiona Hyslop: Details of the capital projects to be undertaken in the university and college sector in the next three years are an operational matter for the Scottish Funding Council. I have asked the Scottish Funding Council to write to the member with this information.

Higher Education Funding

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the transfer of £20 million out of the university and college budget will have on capital projects in the sector.

Fiona Hyslop: The deferring of £20 million from the Scottish Funding Council’s capital allocation from 2009-10 to 2010-11 will have no impact on capital projects within the university and college sector. The Scottish Funding Council’s capital investment projects will continue without delay in 2009-10 and the deferment will assist in the flexible management of phasing and cash flows over academic years.

Higher Education Funding

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it would need to spend in 2009-10 to ensure that Scotland would be in the top decile internationally in terms of the percentage of GDP invested in its universities.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15189 on 22 August 2008. My officials are continuing to discuss with the Scottish Funding Council and Universities Scotland the most robust basis on which to make international comparisons about the percentage of GDP invested in universities.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Homecoming Scotland

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to actively engage tourist businesses in Ayrshire and across Scotland in the Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebrations to ensure that the tourism industry achieves the maximum benefit from the celebrations and that Scottish businesses are better marketed abroad.

Jim Mather: Homecoming Scotland’s principal aim is to attract additional visitors to Scotland in 2009. Doing so will yield benefits to many tourism related businesses in Ayrshire and across the rest of Scotland, including those providing accommodation, food, transport services and visitor attractions.

  VisitScotland and EventScotland, who are delivering Homecoming, on behalf of the Scottish Government, are actively engaging many tourism businesses in Ayrshire and across Scotland to help ensure that business opportunities are taken advantage of and that maximum benefit is achieved from the initiative.

  VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit have been engaging with business leaders with Scottish connections, and with the top inward investors in Scotland, to encourage them to bring their conferences and business events to Scotland in 2009.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Scottish Government’s pledge of £100 million to alleviate a chronic housing shortage will be spent in Edinburgh.

Stewart Maxwell: The £100 million accelerated funding will be split £30 million in 2008-09 and £70 million in 2009-10. To date £9 million of project expenditure has been announced and further tranches covering the £30 million will be announced over the coming month. We are prioritising bringing forward new construction but also spending on off the shelf units and land acquisitions where this is strategically sensible and offers good value for money.

  Edinburgh is a local authority which has seen its levels of resources protected this year receiving a total of £36.1 million in 2008-09. Projects within Edinburgh are therefore not currently being prioritised for the accelerated £30 million. No decisions have been taken on the allocation of the accelerated £70 million in 2009-10.

Immigration

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Migration Advisory Committee regarding the minimum threshold for low-skilled workers, such as Indian curry chefs, coming from outside the European Union.

Linda Fabiani: The Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) remit is to provide advice on where shortages of skilled labour can sensibly be filled by migration from outside the European Economic Area. The Scottish Government has not made representations to the MAC on the issue of low skilled workers. In respect of skilled workers on the shortage occupation list, the First Minister wrote to the Home Secretary and Chair of the MAC on 20 October about the minimum salary level of £8.10 for skilled chefs.

Immigration

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the minimum threshold for low-skilled workers, such as Indian curry chefs, coming from outside the European Union.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government has not made representations to the Home Secretary on the issue of low skilled workers. In respect of skilled workers on the shortage occupation list, the First Minister wrote to the Home Secretary who has responsibility for the UK Immigration System, on 20 October about the minimum salary level of £8.10 for skilled chefs.

Immigration

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with restaurateurs regarding the effect of the UK Government’s new points-based immigration system

Linda Fabiani: The First Minister met with Enam Ali, the founder and organiser of the British Curry Awards, in January 2008.

  In March 2008 officials discussed the points based system with restaurateurs at the evidence gathering event organised by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Officials also met with representatives from the Bangladesh Samity in June 2008 to discuss concerns about recruiting skilled staff and engaging with the MAC.

International Development

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of how it has spent its overseas aid budget since 2007.

Linda Fabiani: The total expenditure from the International Development Fund for financial year 2007-08 and 2008-09 (to date) is £5,284,046.04. The correct breakdown is as follows:

  International Development Fund Expenditure 2007-08

  

 Organisation
 Country
 Expenditure


 Adam Smith College 
 Malawi
£60,000.00


 Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
 Malawi
£10,000.00


 Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
 Malawi
£120,000.00


 Balfron High School
 Malawi
£19,000.00


 Bell College
 Malawi
£149,600.00


 Bell College
 Malawi
£8,000.00


 Bell College
 Malawi
£36,906.00


 Books Abroad
 Malawi
£14,400.00


 Challenges Worldwide
 Sri Lanka
£92,333.00


 Challenges Worldwide
 Sri Lanka
£20,000.00


 Child Support Project
 Malawi
£64,284.00


 Christian Aid Scotland
 Malawi
£62,439.00


 Christian Blind Mission
 Malawi
£40,000.00


 Civic Computing
 Malawi
£1,500.00


 Commonwealth Local Government Forum
 Malawi
£55,000.00


 Concern Worldwide
 Malawi
£83,750.00


 Concern Worldwide
 Malawi
£83,750.00


 Deaf Action
 Malawi and Swaziland
£74,491.15


 EMMS International
 Malawi
£47,743.00


 Enterprising Global Citizen Consortium
 Malawi
£18,000.00


 Equal Exchange
 Malawi
£13,987.38


 Equal Exchange
 Malawi
£71,666.00


 Glasgow Caledonian University
 Malawi
£111,200.00


 Glasgow Caledonian University
 Malawi
£2,500.00


 Glasgow City Council
 Malawi
£25,000.00


 Glasgow City Council
 Malawi
£25,000.00


 Global Concerns Trust
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Golden Jubilee Hospital
 Ghana
£3,000.00


 Imani Development
 Malawi
£56,000.00


 Imani Development
 Malawi
£6,000.00


 International Community Trust for Health and Educational Services
 Sub Saharan Africa, Central and South East Asia
£47,875.00


 International Community Trust for Health and Educational Services
 Sub Saharan Africa, Central and South East Asia
£53,250.00


 International Development Education Association in Scotland
 N/A
£35,000.00


 International Network of Street Papers
 Ethiopia and Namibia
£44,107.00


 International Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
 Ghana
£45,000.00


 Jubilee Scotland
 N/A
£11,415.00


 Link Community Development
 Malawi
£200,000.00


 Lothian Zambia HIV/AIDS Partnership
 Zambia
£33,651.00


 Lothian Zambia HIV/AIDS Partnership
 Zambia
£59,600.00


 Lothian Zambia HIV/AIDS Partnership
 Zambia
£40,358.00


 LTS International – Scholarship Feasibility Study
 Sub Saharan Africa
£17,625.00


 Malawi Tomorrow
 Malawi
£35,295.00


 Malawi Trade School Appeal
 Malawi
£11,450.00


 Mamie Martin Fund
 Malawi
£42,924.00


 Mozambique Community Health Project
 Mozambique
£1,150.00


 National Library of Scotland
 Malawi
£2,000.00


 NHS Dumfries and Galloway
 Malawi
£4,896.20


 NHS Greater Glasgow
 Liberia
£1,225.40


 NHS Greater Glasgow
 Malawi
£4,000.00


 NHS Greater Glasgow
 Kenya
£4,200.00


 NHS Tayside
 Malawi
£30,000.00


 NHS Tayside
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 NIDOS
 N/A
£85,000.00


 Ninewells Hospital
 Malawi
£30,000.00


 Ninewells Hospital
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 Opportunity International
 Malawi
£135,000.00


 Opportunity International
 Malawi
£15,000.00


 Oxfam in Scotland
 Malawi
£100,000.00


 Oxfam in Scotland
 Malawi
£50,000.00


 Princess Alexandra Eye Pavillion
 Ethiopia
£5,000.00


 Queen Margaret University
 Malawi
£57,000.00


 Queen Margaret University
 Malawi
£40,000.00


 Rosehall High School
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Royal College of Nursing
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 Royal College of Nursing
 Malawi
£30,000.00


 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Sanday School
 Malawi
£1,362.00


 Scotland Malawi Business Group
 Malawi
£68,070.00


 Scotland Malawi Mental Health
 Malawi
£30,000.00


 Scotland Malawi Mental Health
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 Scotland Malawi Partnership
 Malawi
£17,200.00


 Scotland Malawi Partnership
 Malawi
£53,560.00


 Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara
 Sri Lanka
£27,500.00


 Scotland’s Buddhist Vihara
 Sri Lanka
£19,047.00


 Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
 N/A
£60,000.00


 Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
 Sudan
£35,000.00


 Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
 Sudan
£250,000.00


 Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
 Tanzania
£20,024.00


 Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
 Sudan
£35,000.00


 Scottish Crop Research Institute
 Malawi
£30,597.00


 Scottish Education Development Centre
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Scottish Fair Trade Forum
 N/A
£40,000.00


 Scottish International Relief
 Malawi
£75,891.00


 Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
 Malawi
£62,775.00


 SKIP Glasgow
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 Stenhouse Primary School
 Malawi
£15,920.00


 Strathclyde University
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 Tearfund
 Malawi
£81,940.00


 Tearfund
 Malawi
£51,557.00


 Tearfund
 Malawi
£50,000.00


 The Fair Trading Partnership
 N/A
£714.40


 University of Dundee
 Malawi
£15,000.00


 University of Edinburgh
 Sri Lanka
£23,300.00


 University of Edinburgh
 Malawi
£120,000.00


 University of Edinburgh
 Malawi
£19,800.00


 University of Edinburgh
 All Africa
£9,200.00


 University of Edinburgh
 Malawi
£88,249.51


 University of Edinburgh
 Sub-Saharan Africa
£26,000.00


 University of Edinburgh
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 University of Glasgow
 Zambia and Ethiopia
£30,950.00


 University of St Andrews
 Malawi
£19,666.00


 University of Stirling
 Malawi
£20,000.00


 University of Stirling
 Malawi
£65,500.00


 University of Strathclyde
 Malawi
£51,000.00


 University of Strathclyde
 Malawi
£33,750.00


 Vetaid
 Tanzania
£19,629.00


 VSO Global Exchange
 Malawi
£40,000.00


 Waverley Care Trust
 Zambia
£19,646.00


 Westgate Health Centre
 Malawi
£31,000.00


 World Exchange
 Malawi
£35,000.00


 WWF Scotland
 South Africa
£5,792.00


 Zambezi Mission
 Malawi
£4,000.00


 Total
 
£4,481,211.04



  International Development Fund Expenditure 2008 To Date

  

 Organisation
 Country
 Expenditure


 Adam Smith College
 Malawi
£190,000.00


 Bell College
 Malawi
£8,000.00


 Bell College
 Malawi
£20,089.00


 Bell College
 Malawi
£13,000.00


 Dundee School of Medicine
 Malawi
£5,000.00


 EMMS International
 Malawi
£47,743.00


 Institute for International Health and Development
 Malawi
£57,000.00


 International Community Trust for Health and Educational Services 
 Sub Saharan Africa, Central and South East Asia
£53,250.00


 Moffat Centre, University of Glasgow
 Malawi
£72,400.00


 Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland
 N/A
£28,962.00


 Scotland Malawi Partnership
 Malawi
£48,690.00


 Scotland Malawi Partnership
 Malawi
£62,295.00


 Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund
 Sudan
£20,024.00


 Scottish Fair Trade Forum
 N/A
£60,000.00


 Tearfund
 Malawi
£64,102.00


 University of Glasgow
 Malawi
£52,280.00


 Total
 
£802,835.00

International Development

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3O-2233 by Linda Fabiani on 7 February 2008 ( Official Report c. 5994) whether it will reconsider the decision to remove £500,000 of funding for Expo 2010 in Shanghai, in light of Lord Steel’s comments reported in The Scotsman and The Herald newspapers on 4 November 2008 and the Scottish Executive’s stated desire to protect the economy from the worsening effects of recession.

Linda Fabiani: It is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) role to represent Scotland at the Expo, along with the other countries of the UK, and to do so not only if the Scottish Government provides earmarked funds. Scotland already pays its share of the FCO’s budget and of the other UK-wide bodies at the UK pavilion and we expect that Scotland will be appropriately represented.

  I discussed this point with Ian McCartney, UK Commissioner for the Expo when I met him in June when I offered to discuss with the FCO the possibility of funding from the Scottish Government for specific events to showcase Scotland.

Legislation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to publish the Public Services Reform Bill’s Financial Memorandum incorporating the costs of setting up Creative Scotland.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government is planning that the Public Services Reform Bill will be introduced to the Parliament in early 2009. The bill will be accompanied by the Financial Memorandum setting out the best estimates of the administrative, compliance and other costs to which the provisions of the bill would give rise, best estimates of the timescales over which such costs would be expected to arise, and an indication of the margins of uncertainty in such estimates.

Lifelong Learning

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the UK Government’s proposed right to request time off to train will apply to employees in Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: I am pleased to announce that I have written to John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills to signal my support for the proposal to give employees a legal right to request time off to train and to formally request that the proposed legislation is drafted to cover Scotland.

  The Scottish Government recently consulted on extending the UK Government’s proposal for a right to request time off to train to employees in Scotland. 93% of respondents, including employers, trade unions and business organisations, supported this despite the challenges of the current economic climate.

  Companies who continue to develop the skills of their employees through the challenging times ahead will reap the benefits of this when the economy changes gear. Investing in skills is vital for economic recovery and our support for the proposed right to request time to train aligns with our economic recovery plan. However, aware of the pressures facing businesses in these tough times, I will ensure that appropriate support measures are in place for employers in Scotland if this right is enshrined in employment legislation.

  To support employers - particularly small businesses - with the introduction of this right, Skills Development Scotland will establish a dedicated helpline, providing access to expert advisers to help employers assess the skills needs of their business and other training issues.

  We will work with trade unions and business organisations to develop guidance for employees and employers on using the new legislation if and when it is introduced.

Ministerial Meetings

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth last met COSLA.

John Swinney: Under our concordat with local government, I regularly meet COSLA. The most recent meeting was on Wednesday 5 November when the Cabinet Secretary for Lifelong Learning and I met the COSLA Presidential team.

Parliamentary Questions

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will provide substantive answers to questions S3W-15852 and S3W-15851, which received holding replies on 29 September 2008.

John Swinney: These questions were answered on 20 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Prison Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to reduce the number of babies being raised in prison, in light of recent media coverage on the matter.

Kenny MacAskill: Deciding on sentences for women offenders is entirely a matter for Courts. The Scottish Prison Service is required under law to receive anybody who is sent to them from Court. Expectant mothers and mothers of babies and young children are no exception.

  Nobody likes the idea of a baby being brought up in prison but separating mothers and their newborn babies can have a lasting and damaging effect. The Scottish Prison Service together with social work services considers each case on its individual merits taking into account the demands of parenting very young children in a prison environment. Decisions to maintain a baby with its mother or to separate them are always based on the best interests of the child.

Public Private Partnerships

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will itemise by value the PPP projects that are in the market place or under procurement in this financial year and provide comparable data for the last eight years, showing the value of publicly procured projects in each year.

John Swinney: Information on PPP and NPD projects which are in procurement during 2008-09, together with data on NPD/PPP/PFI deals done over the last eight years, is available from the Scottish Government website by following link and clicking on "Project List – Done Deals" and "Project List – Future Deals" entries. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18232/12308 .

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16852 by Jim Mather on 22 October 2008, what generating capacity was approved by (a) Aberdeenshire Council under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for the Mid Hill development and (b) the Scottish Ministers under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 for the extension to the Mid Hill development.

Jim Mather: Aberdeenshire Council granted under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 planning permission for the 49.9 MW Mid Hill wind farm in June 2005. In January 2008, Scottish ministers granted under Section 36 of the Electricity Act a consent for the Mid Hill wind farm for with a total generating capacity of 75 MW. The consent for the Mid Hill wind farm application granted by Scottish ministers can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/Energy/Energy-Consents/Applications-Database/Wind/Mid-Hill-Decision.

  For the avoidance of doubt, the construction of the generating station granted under the Electricity Act does not vary from the development consented in the 2005 planning authority consent, other than the upgrade of five turbines, however the section 36 consent must reflect the total generating capacity granted for the development.

Roads

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the financial details for the construction of the on-line upgrade of the A80 to full motorway status have been agreed and, if so, what the details are.

Stewart Stevenson: Financial close and the subsequent contract award are expected to be concluded by the end of the year.

Schools

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning last met Midlothian Council to discuss its school building programme; what the outcome was of these discussions, and when it is estimated that work will start on building the new Lasswade High School.

Maureen Watt: The most recent ministerial discussion with Midlothian Council covering the school building programme was with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 6 August, when the Council representatives set out their plans. Any decision to build a new Lasswade High School remains a matter for Midlothian Council.

Scottish Futures Trust

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the agreed tenure is of Sir Angus Grossart as chair of the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-16539 on 7 October 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with banks and financial institutions in the last three months on the subject of the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and which of them have shown a willingness to participate in the SFT.

John Swinney: Many market interests, including banks and investment funders, have held discussions with the Scottish Government during the course of the Scottish Futures Trust development. Following the launch of SFT on 10 September, the body itself is now holding such discussions, which will continue in the months to come in keeping with the collaborative approach adopted by SFT.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken an assessment of the market for potential investors to get involved in projects using the non-profit distributing model.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has kept market capacity for all types of delivery vehicle under review. This overview will now be provided by Scottish Futures Trust.

  The non-profit distributing model has been followed in five projects in Scotland, and in each case, attracted three bidders. This consistent response exceeds the experience during the schools PPP programme and demonstrates market interest in this type of delivery model.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of how it aims to save £150 million per annum under the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-14558 on 17 July 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx . If the member wishes further information, he should refer to pages 41 to 43 of Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust  (Bib. number 45605), published on 20 May 2008. This document can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent .

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Scottish Futures Trust to have its own funding capability.

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether assets built under the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will be under the control of the SFT company.

John Swinney: As was made clear in the strategic business case for Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) published in May 2008, there are no immediate plans for SFT to own or control public infrastructure. As the business case indicated, the intention is that proposals for an SFT finance and investment function will be brought forward by autumn 2009.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the board and chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust will be named.

John Swinney: I announced the appointment of two non-executive directors to the board of Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) on 7 November 2008. These are Councillor Jim Fletcher, Leader of East Renfrewshire Council, and Colin Maclean, former group head of Procurement and Supply Chain Management with BP. I intend to make two further appointments to the board of SFT on the same basis soon.

  The position of the chief executive was advertised recently.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when a memorandum of agreement on how the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will operate will be completed between the Scottish Government and the SFT board.

John Swinney: A management statement covering a range of relevant issues is currently being drafted.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Futures Trust will be.

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the payroll costs of the Scottish Futures Trust will be.

John Swinney: The Autumn Budget Revision, laid in the Parliament on 23 October 2008, includes a revised budget, including payroll costs, for the Scottish Futures Trust in 2008-09 of £440,000. This reflects current estimates of expenditure in 2008-09. The strategic business case Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) estimated that running costs, including payroll costs, in 2009-10 would be around £3.1 million. The actual budget for SFT in 2009-10 will be set out in the budget bill for parliamentary scrutiny.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Futures Trust’s operating model will be.

Mr John Swinney: I have made clear, in my statement on 10 September and in the debate in the Parliament on 13 November that the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will work collaboratively with public and private sectors in Scotland to maximise value for money from public infrastructure investment, using innovative approaches and at arm’s length from government. Operational management is a matter for the SFT Board.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) will have an agreed investment model.

John Swinney: As the publication Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605) makes clear, and as I have emphasised in my statement on 10 September and in the debate in the Parliament on 13 November, SFT will work collaboratively with the public and private sectors to help identify the most cost-effective approach to planning, preparing, and procuring solutions to Scotland’s infrastructure needs. There will be no single investment model. The most appropriate approach to funding infrastructure investment will depend on the circumstances of the project and the availability and cost of capital funding from the market and from public sector sources.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Futures Trust will raise money.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the strategic business case titled Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust  (Bib. number 45605), published on 20 May 2008, which explains the objectives of setting up the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) and lists early priorities for action. This document can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent . It remains the intention, as the strategic business case indicated, that proposals for an SFT Finance and Investment function will be brought forward by autumn 2009 for possible implementation by 2010.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local bodies that wanted to participate in the community hubs pathfinder territories had signed a letter of intent by 10 October 2008.

John Swinney: I announced the pathfinder territories within the hub initiative during the debate on the Scottish Futures Trust on 13 November. The timing of signing of letters of intent is a matter for the bodies concerned. All the bodies in the South East pathfinder area have now signed letters. As I indicated on 13 November, the Scottish Futures Trust is continuing to discuss details with some of the bodies in the north pathfinder area. We are confident that all bodies will sign.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the community hubs will fit operationally with the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The hub initiative is now led and managed by the Scottish Futures Trust, in close collaboration with public sector partners.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authorities will still receive level-playing field support under the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: Level Playing Field Support and Revenue Support for local authority PPP projects was subsumed within the total funding for local authorities under the concordat, with effect from April 2008. It is for local authorities to decide how to structure infrastructure investment schemes to achieve optimum value for money over the life of the project in the light of advice available from SFT.

  Further discussion on financial support for local authorities will be discussed through the School Estate Strategy Working Group.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it will provide to local authorities under the Scottish Futures Trust.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust will offer support to local authorities in developing national strategies for planning, funding and delivering schools, housing, waste disposal and flood defence projects and programmes. It will provide expertise in infrastructure procurement for the public sector to call on in negotiating contracts, and will provide guidance to local authorities on structuring their on-going non-profit distributing projects and programmes. In addition, the Scottish Government will continue to provide advice and support to local authorities on a wide range of infrastructure issues, as well as substantial funding under the concordat with local government.

Scottish Futures Trust

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether assets built under the Scottish Futures Trust will be accounted for on public sector balance sheets.

John Swinney: Under new public sector accounting arrangements governed by international financial reporting standards, to be adopted from April 2009, the balance sheet treatment of all public infrastructure assets, including those created through schemes in which the Scottish Futures Trust has played a role, will depend on the nature of the schemes including delivery and funding arrangements, and the opinion of the auditor in relation to each project.

Scottish Government

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which members of the Scottish Government have received the services of a stylist since May 2007.

John Swinney: None.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by how much the remuneration of the (a) chair, (b) asset management director and (c) commercial director of Scottish Water has increased in the last two years.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is given on page 29 of Scottish Water’s annual report and accounts for 2007-08, Delivering Best Ever Value For Our Customers , published by Scottish Water earlier this year, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46506).

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what percentage the remuneration of the chief executive of Scottish Water has increased relative to that received by his predecessor in 2006-07.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water’s current chief executive was appointed on 25 March 2008 at a basic annual salary of £263,000 with a potential annual performance bonus of up to 40% and a long-term incentive package. The amount of bonus will be determined after the end of the current financial year. His predecessor’s remuneration in 2006-07 was £312,000 comprising salary, bonus, benefits and long term incentive plan payments.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way its rules regarding pay prevent Scottish Water from using efficiency savings to top up its pay offer to employees in the same way as local government.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water, like other Scottish public corporations and non-departmental public bodies in Scotland, is subject to the Scottish Government’s policy on public sector pay. The pay award implemented recently by Scottish Water was approved under the policy for 2007-08. Efficiency savings reduce the cost of pay proposals for organisations but do not impact on the level of increases that staff receive. The policy limits on the average increases made to staff ensures fairness across public bodies. Copies of the relevant policy document are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 46949).

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made representations to the board of Scottish Water to the effect that all employees in the water industry should be rewarded in the same way for achieving efficiency savings over the last two years and in future years.

Stewart Stevenson: No. Remuneration is a matter for Scottish Water to agree with its workforce in accordance with the Scottish Government’s policy for public sector pay. As part of the remuneration packages for both senior executives and staff, Scottish Water operates non-consolidated bonus schemes based on delivery of performance objectives.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to Scottish Water over the level of pay increases for staff and whether that advice indicates that it is acceptable for senior executives in Scottish Water to have large percentage increases compared to the majority of those employed in the industry.

Stewart Stevenson: We agreed with Scottish Water a staff pay remit for 2008-09 compliant with the Scottish Government’s policy on public sector pay. Scottish Water implemented the maximum pay award within that remit. Senior directors’ remuneration for 2008-09 has yet to be determined within the framework agreed for 2006-10 and any increases will be subject to the Scottish Government’s Public Sector Pay Policy for Senior Appointments 2008-09. Copies of the relevant policy documents are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 46949 and 46946).

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has contingency plans in case of disruption resulting from industrial action by employees of Scottish Water and, if so, what those plans involve.

Stewart Stevenson: This is an operational matter for Scottish Water. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you directly about this.

Sex Offenders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16680 by Kenny MacAskill on 27 October 2008, whether it intends to take action to increase the proportion of sex offenders able to access treatment under the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is in the process of commissioning a new "rolling format" sex offender programme to meet the needs of a larger proportion of the sex offender population. This will also streamline the selection process for sex offender programmes.

  The SPS is reviewing case management procedures for all prisoners to develop a more coherent Integrated Case Management (ICM) process.

  These steps will allow for increased for Sex Offender Treatment Programme delivery.

Sex Offenders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16679 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 October 2008, whether it has plans to collate information on reoffending rates for sex offenders who have and have not attended the Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Yes.

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is currently gathering reoffending information on prisoners who have, and who have not completed the Sex Offender Treatment Programmes. It is anticipated that reconviction data for 2000-04 will be available in early 2009.

Sex Offenders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to questions S3W-16676, S3W-16677 and S3W-16678 by Kenny MacAskill on 24 October 2008, whether it intends to run the Sex Offender Treatment Programme at any other prisons or young offenders’ institutions where sex offenders are currently held.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Sex Offender Treatment Programmes are currently delivered at four Scottish Prison Service (SPS) sites – HM Prisons Peterhead, Edinburgh, Barlinnie and HM YOI Polmont. There are no plans at present to roll out the delivery of Sex Offender Treatment Programmes to other prisons.

Substance Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16845 by Maureen Watt on 4 November 2008, whether it intends to take action to address the number of pupils temporarily excluded from school for substance misuse.

Maureen Watt: The power to exclude a pupil for any reason, including substance misuse, rests with education authorities. It is, therefore, for education authorities in conjunction with schools to take decisions on exclusions based on the individual circumstances of the case. The Scottish Government is developing new guidance on exclusion to support education authorities in taking these decisions.

  The Scottish Government has established an expert steering group on substance misuse education in schools to produce advice, guidance and proposals aimed at helping schools and authorities to achieve the improvements sought through Curriculum for Excellence.

Teachers

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many retired teachers are (a) on supply lists and (b) working as supply teachers, broken down by local authority.

Maureen Watt: This information is not held centrally.

Terrorism

Bashir Ahmad (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the UK Government regarding the UK Counter-Terrorism Bill.

Kenny MacAskill: Counter-Terrorism legislation is reserved. I have, however, met Lord West, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Security and Counter Terrorism, to discuss counter-terrorism issues, including the Counter-Terrorism Bill and I have written to both the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith MP and the Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform and Minister for London, Tony McNulty MP, on aspects of the legislation.

  Terrorism is perpetuated by individuals not communities and while there is clearly a need for government to ensure that communities are safe from harm, there is also a need to ensure that all are protected from harassment. The Scottish Government has, therefore, made it clear that we will support this legislation provided that the measures are proportionate, fit for purpose and accord fully with Scots law.

Transport

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to bring forward transport infrastructure investment ahead of the strategic transport projects review.

Stewart Stevenson: We have a fully committed programme of transport infrastructure investment to 2012. We have already brought forward plans for the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) and the Forth Replacement Crossing is also being taken forward on that basis.

  The STPR is currently in the process of concluding and ministers are considering the emerging findings. It is expected there will be an announcement on the outcome of the review later this year.